Live updates: G7 reject paying for Russian energy in rubles

BERLIN — Germany’s vitality minister says the Group of Seven main economies have agreed to reject Russia’s demand to pay for Russian vitality imports in rubles.

Robert Habeck informed reporters Monday that “all G-7 ministers agreed utterly that this (could be) a one-sided and clear breach of the prevailing contracts.”

Habeck stated after a web-based assembly with G-7 vitality ministers that “fee in ruble will not be acceptable and we are going to urge the businesses affected to not observe (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s demand.”

Requested by reporters earlier Monday if Russia may reduce fuel provides to European prospects in the event that they reject the demand to pay for the Russian fuel in rubles, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that “we clearly aren’t going to provide fuel without cost.”

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KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR:

— Ukraine seeks face-to-face talks with Russia to safe peace “at once”

— Holocaust survivors flee from Ukraine to Germany for security

— Ukrainian welders flip donated automobiles into military transport

— Ukraine battle threatens meals provides in fragile Arab world

— The Oscars have second of silence, and a plea, for Ukraine

— ‘My private tragedy’: Ukrainians brace for an assault on Odesa

— Go to https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine for extra protection

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OTHER DEVELOPMENTS:

BERLIN — German authorities are contemplating whether or not to prosecute individuals who use the “Z” image to indicate help for Russia’s assault on Ukraine.

Russian troops in Ukraine have painted the letter Z on the aspect of automobiles and it has been adopted by some in Russia as an emblem of help for what the Kremlin describes as a “particular army operation” within the neighboring nation.

A spokesman for the German Inside Ministry stated Monday that safety providers are conscious the image can be getting used at rallies in Germany.

The spokesman, Marek Wede, informed reporters in Berlin that the letter can beneath sure circumstances be thought of an indication of help for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“The Russian assault on Ukraine is against the law and whoever publicly approves of this battle can thereby develop into criminally liable,” Wede stated.

He added that federal authorities welcomed bulletins by some German states to analyze whether or not particular person situations of the “Z” use represent legal acts.

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LJUBLJANA, Slovenia — Slovenia says it has reinstated a diplomatic consultant in Kyiv and reopened the nation’s embassy in Ukraine.

The ministry says Slovenia’s embassy in Kyiv reopened on Monday after the arrival of the interim cost d’affaires Bostjan Lesjak. Slovenia’s ambassador to Ukraine stays in Rzeszow, a city on the Polish-Ukrainian border.

Slovenia’s transfer comes after Prime Minister Janez Jansa urged European Union nations to revive their presence in Kyiv in help for Ukraine. Jansa visited Kyiv this month together with the prime ministers of Poland and the Czech Republic.

He stated on Twitter on Monday that “we’re again.” Jansa provides that “the Slovenian and European flags flutter once more in entrance of the Slovenian Embassy in Kyiv.”

Slovenia’s International Ministry stated that Lesjak stated upon arrival that town was abandoned, and that alarms and detonations could possibly be heard within the distance.

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LVIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne has quoted the mayor of Mariupol as saying that round 160,000 folks stay within the besieged port metropolis, and {that a} “humanitarian disaster” would ensue if extra evacuations are usually not doable.

Vadym Boychenko stated Monday that Russian forces had been stopping civilians from evacuating from town and had been turning again some who tried to make it out.

The town, which had a pre-war inhabitants of greater than 400,000, has seen a few of the worst situations since Russian forces invaded Ukraine on Feb.24. Russian forces have pounded town, and scores of civilians have been unable to flee, with no entry to necessities and reduce off from communication with the shelling of cell, radio and TV towers.

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MOSCOW — The Kremlin has voiced concern about U.S. President Joe Biden’s remark in regards to the Russian President Vladimir Putin and stated it should rigorously observe his rhetoric.

Capping a four-day journey to Europe Saturday, Biden stated of Putin: “For God’s sake, this man can not stay in energy,” phrases the White Home instantly sought to downplay.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov informed reporters Monday that Biden’s assertion “undoubtedly causes alarm.” He added that the Kremlin will rigorously monitor the U.S. president’s statements.

Peskov stated beforehand that “it’s lower than the president of the U.S. and lower than the Individuals to resolve who will stay in energy in Russia.”

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MOSCOW — Russia’s international minister says the presidents of Russia and Ukraine may meet for talks solely after the important thing parts of a possible deal are negotiated.

Sergey Lavrov stated Monday that “the assembly is important as soon as we have now readability relating to options on all key points.”

Lavrov’s feedback observe Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s assertion that he’s prepared to debate Ukraine’s neutrality and safety ensures with Russian President Vladimir Putin to safe peace “at once.” Zelenskyy added that solely a face-to-face assembly with Russia’s chief may finish the battle.

Russian and Turkish negotiators are set to carry one other spherical of talks in Istanbul, Turkey on Tuesday to attempt to draft an settlement.

Talking in a web-based interview with Serbian media, Lavrov alleged that Ukraine solely need to “imitate talks” whereas Russia wants particular outcomes that might be secured by the nations’ leaders.

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BEIJING — China says the U.S. ought to take severely Beijing’s considerations about punishing financial sanctions in opposition to Russia.

China, which has what it calls a “no limits” partnership with Moscow, has strongly objected to the sanctions, saying they’ll worsen the worldwide financial outlook with out bringing an finish to the battle.

International Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin stated at a each day briefing Monday that China and different nations imagine “folks of all nations don’t have any duty to pay for geopolitical conflicts and nice energy video games.”

“The issue now will not be about who needs to assist Russia bypass sanctions, however in regards to the regular financial and commerce relations between nations, together with China, and Russia have been unnecessarily broken,” Wang stated.

“We urge the U.S. to take China’s considerations severely when coping with the Ukraine problem and relations with Russia, and to not harm China’s respectable rights and pursuits in any method,” Wang stated.

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THE HAGUE, Netherlands — European Union judicial coordination company Eurojust says it has helped Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine to determine a joint investigation workforce to probe battle crimes, crimes in opposition to humanity and different crimes dedicated in Ukraine.

The Hague-based company stated Monday that the three nations signed an settlement on Friday establishing the workforce. Eurojust says it supplied authorized and technical help.

Eurojust says the primary intention of the workforce is to “help the gathering of proof and its swift and safe trade between companions, in addition to the transmission of data and proof.”

Eurojust provides that the workforce will assist the three nations cooperate with Worldwide Prison Court docket prosecution workplace, which additionally has opened an investigation in Ukraine.

Inside the first month of Russia’s battle in opposition to Ukraine, Polish prosecutors stated that they had collected some 300 witness testimonies from refugees pouring over the border.

Joint investigation groups assist nations pool assets and data throughout advanced worldwide investigations. The Netherlands and different nations arrange such a workforce to analyze the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airways flight MH17 over jap Ukraine.

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THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Dutch brewing large Heineken says it’s pulling out of Russia amid Moscow’s ongoing battle in opposition to Ukraine.

The corporate stated Monday that its enterprise in Russia “is now not sustainable nor viable within the present atmosphere. In consequence, we have now determined to depart Russia.”

It stated it’s looking for an “orderly switch of our enterprise to a brand new proprietor in full compliance with worldwide and native legal guidelines.”

Heineken will proceed to pay its 1,800 employees in Russia via the top of the yr. The corporate says it is not going to revenue from the sale of its Russian operations and expects to take a 400 million-euro ($438 million) cost consequently.

Amid worldwide outrage and sanctions that adopted Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, the Netherlands-based brewer halted new investments and gross sales to Russia and ended manufacturing, gross sales and promoting of its Heineken model beer there.

The corporate stated Monday that it continues to “hope {that a} path to a peaceable final result emerges within the close to time period.”

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ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey’s protection ministry says army groups are working to disable a second naval mine that was detected floating off Turkey’s Black Beach.

On Monday, the ministry stated Underwater Defence Groups that had been dispatched to the positioning off the coast of Igneada, close to the border with Bulgaria, had managed to safe the mine and had been now working to “neutralize” it.

On Saturday, authorities closed the Bosporus — the landmark waterway between the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara — to visitors as a precaution because the Turkish coast guard responded to studies of a drifting mine-like object which was later “neutralized.”

The sighting of the explosive units follows warnings that mines laid on the entrances to Ukrainian ports may break away in heavy climate and cross the Black Sea.

On March 18, Turkey issued a Navtex alert advising ships to maintain a “sharp look out” and report any doable mines that had drifted from ports akin to Odesa.

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GENEVA — The Workplace of the UN Excessive Commissioner for Human Rights says it has recorded 1,119 civilian deaths and 1,790 folks injured since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24.

The UN company stated Sunday most casualties had been brought on by use of explosive weapons with a large influence space, together with shelling from heavy artillery and multiple-launch rocket programs, and missile and air strikes. It stated it believes precise figures are “significantly increased,” given delays in acquiring data and in corroborating the studies.

Of these killed, 224 had been males, 168 ladies, 15 ladies and 32 boys. The intercourse of one other 52 youngsters and 628 adults has not but been decided.

The report stated allegations of many civilian casualties within the besieged southern metropolis of Mariupol and in Volnovakha, Izium, Popasna, Rubizhne and Trostianets had been nonetheless being corroborated and are usually not included within the newest totals.

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LONDON — Russian forces have made no vital progress previously 24 hours amid persevering with provide issues and aggressive resistance from Ukrainian fighters, U.Okay. protection officers say.

Poor morale and a scarcity of momentum have compounded the issues dealing with Russian forces, Britain’s Ministry of Protection stated in its newest intelligence briefing.

Heavy combating continues round Mariupol as Russian forces attempt to seize the port on the Sea of Azov, which connects to the Black Sea, the ministry stated in a briefing posted on Twitter.

Earlier, the ministry stated Russia was sustaining a blockade of Ukraine’s Black Beach, reducing off maritime commerce with the nation. The Russian navy can be launching “sporadic” missile strikes in opposition to targets in Ukraine, the ministry stated.

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BEIJING — China’s ambassador to the U.S. says that of all events involved within the Ukraine, solely China has Russia’s ear.

Qin Gang’s feedback to the Phoenix Tv channel, which has shut ties with China’s ruling Communist Social gathering, come as Beijing’s tacit help for Moscow is receiving rising scrutiny from Washington and others.

China has refused to criticize Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and even discuss with it as such. It has additionally vigorously opposed punishing financial sanctions imposed on Moscow by the West.

Qin stated China was uniquely positioned to assist peacefully resolve what he known as “the disaster.”

“Now, all events involved are in critical confrontation with Russia besides China. Solely China has the ear of Russia,” Qin informed the channel’s “Discuss With World Leaders” program in an interview broadcast on Sunday.

Qin blamed NATO’s eastward enlargement for having provoked Russia. “Russia feels duped by NATO on its eastward enlargement. It feels threatened and cornered,” Qin stated.

Whereas Beijing claims it’s neutral within the battle, Chinese language state media has repeated false and unsupported claims made by Moscow.

Phoenix has itself obtained consideration for embedding a reporter with Russian troops who has produced a gentle stream of pro-Moscow studies.

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LVIV, Ukraine — Ukraine’s priorities on the Ukrainian-Russian talks in Turkey this week will likely be “sovereignty and territorial integrity,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy informed his nation Sunday in his nightly tackle.

“We’re searching for peace, actually, at once,” he stated. “There is a chance and a necessity for a face-to-face assembly in Turkey. This isn’t unhealthy. Let’s see the end result.”

This week, he stated, “I’ll proceed to enchantment to the parliaments of different nations” to remind them of the dire scenario in besieged cities like Mariupol.

Zelenskyy additionally informed unbiased Russian journalists Sunday that his authorities would think about declaring neutrality and providing safety ensures to Russia, repeating earlier statements. That would come with protecting Ukraine nuclear-free, he stated.

He informed the reporters that the difficulty of neutrality — and agreeing to remain out of NATO — must be put to Ukrainian voters in a referendum after Russian troops withdraw. He stated {that a} vote may happen inside a couple of months as soon as Russian troops depart.

Russia shortly banned Zelenskyy’s interview from being printed. Roskomnadzor, which regulates communications for Moscow, issued the ban Sunday, saying there could possibly be motion taken in opposition to the Russia-based media retailers that took half, which included “these which are international media retailers appearing as international brokers.”

Zelenskyy responded by saying Moscow was afraid of a comparatively quick dialog with journalists. “It might be humorous if it weren’t so tragic,” he stated, in response to the Ukrainian information company RBK Ukraina.

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BERLIN — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says that neither NATO nor U.S. President Joe Biden intention to result in regime change in Russia.

Biden stated of Russian President Vladimir Putin throughout a speech on Saturday that “this man can not stay in energy.” The White Home and different U.S. officers rushed to make clear that Biden wasn’t truly calling for Putin to be toppled.

Requested throughout an look Sunday on ARD tv whether or not Putin’s removing is in reality the actual intention, Scholz replied: “This isn’t the intention of NATO, and in addition not that of the American president.”

Scholz added: “We each agree utterly that regime change will not be an object and intention of coverage that we pursue collectively.”

Scholz final month introduced an enormous improve in German protection spending. On Sunday, he confirmed a report by the Bild am Sonntag newspaper that the federal government is contemplating buying a missile protection protect alongside the strains of Israel’s “Iron Dome.”

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